J.K. Rowling talks “Fantastic Beasts” with Emma Watson
The recent Emma Watson and J.K. Rowling interview in Wonderland Magazine this week was dominated by talk of the Harry Potter trio, Harry, Ron and Hermione. But the duo also found time to talk about the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film and the upcoming Harry Potter stage show.
Emma asked Jo about the script for Fantastic Beasts, which she had previously announced that she was writing. Jo said that when Warner Bros. came to her she
“had this simultaneous feeling of ‘it has a lot of potential,’ and another feeling of slight panic that ‘I know some things about Newt, and I don’t want you to ruin that for me!’ because I knew who he was. So then I went away and sort of dwelt on what I knew about Newt, not intending to write a script but just trying to collect my thoughts so that I could at least give them the backstory I’d imagined so that their vision was true to what I knew.”
Jo went on to reveal that she wrote a first draft for the film in just twelve days, saying that she
“really did have one of those moments that always make you phenomenally excited as a writer but also that you know is going to end up being a ton of work. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, a whole plot’s just descended on me!’ But I wanted to do it [because] I was really excited about it.”
Jo further said that “It wasn’t a great draft, but it did show the shape of how it might look.”
On the upcoming stage play that was announced at the end of last year, Jo said that she was excited about Sonia Friedman’s idea, which she said was “a thoughtful, very interesting” one.
Emma asked Jo if Hermione would be in the stage show, and Jo told her,
“I tell you what I really want. I want you and Dan and Rupert in really heavy make-up in the background of a scene in Fantastic Beasts, and I’ll join you, and we’ll sit in a bar room having a laugh for an afternoon. Do you not think that would be fantastic?”
Jo added, “And then we can see if anyone can spot us. I personally would like to be in drag, just to make sure no one can spot me at all.”
Could we see the stars reuniting for Fantastic Beasts? If Jo gets her way, we’ll have to look out for Emma, Jo, Dan, and Rupert in the film! It sounds like Jo is really excited about Fantastic Beasts, and things are moving along with the script, which is incredibly exciting for Potter fans.
Jo also discussed writing, driving, and her most meaningful triumph. Check out the full Wonderland interview here, and read MuggleNet’s article on the truth behind the H/Hr vs. R/Hr comments.
How excited are you to hear that Jo has already written the first draft of Fantastic Beasts? What would you like to see in the film plot? Let us know!